Barkeep and Brass Rail Relegated to Museum but Bottles Show Old Labels

The Marietta Daily Times, December 23, 1924

"What's yours?"

That cheery query of the barkeep of the days of old when Tom and Jerry arrived at the saloons about this time of year, has been taken up by the bootlegger.  And, 'tis said, even in Marietta it is possible to get most anything desired in the line of wet goods, provided, of course, one believes what one reads on the bottle labels.

If these stories are true all that will be lacking in some quarters of this law-abiding city to make a real pre-Volstead Christmas will be the mahogany bar and the brass rail that have almost gone out of existence with the huge mirrors and the little corkscrew.

Scotch and Canadian whiskeys, gin, ale, cognac, and other so-called imported brands have been brought in to supply the Christmas market here, say persons who ought to know whereof they speak.  And then, besides, there is the usual run of Made in Marietta products that are, according to the manufacturers, much more wholesome and safer than the importations.

While it is true that most of the liquor that is being brought into Marietta is faked and some of it is believed to be "bad," some real Canadian rye is said to be making its appearance in "select circles" here.  In order to get in on this a person must have both social standing and money.  Some of the styled "old time stuff" is put up with all the trimmings of those days of yore, including the green stamp of the revenue department.

"Moonshine at its best" is the slogan of the Marietta distillers who are making every effort to meet the competition of the outsiders who are operating with their "fancy bottles and labels."  Persons who have already bought their liquor are certain that it will have at least a few days of "age" by Christmas.

In one part of the city it is said that it is possible to get alcohol for $5.00 a gallon.  Consequently many gin makers are able to get their "kick."

The price of the liquor in Marietta now varies from $6 to $12 per quart and then again it depends entirely on who is buying and from whom, according to an authority.